Signal device



Aug. 21, 1934. KA'ICH I 1,970,657

S IGNAL DEVICE Filed July 30, 1952 safety.

Patented Aug. 21, 1934 U TE PATENT OFFICE 1 j SIG AL nnvioii Gus 'Kaich, Jacksonville, Tex; Application duly a0, 1932, Serial No. 626,815 Z'Olaims. cr m -339') The present invention is a continuation in part of my application, Serial No. 475,227, filed August 14, 1930, since abandoned and relates to improve-, ments in signal devices, and more particularly to 5. a trafiic signal device adaptable to traffic conditions. in small towns and villages.

An object of my invention is toprovide a trainc signal device having means for augmenting the negative acceleration of vehicular traffic, ap-

10. preaching a road or street intersection.

Another object of my invention is to provide means at a street intersection whereby oncoming traiiic will automatically and with greater certainty operate signals topermit crossings in With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinationsto be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements, comprising my invention, may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangement, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

An effective traflic signal of the type designed for the purpose herein described must perform the diversified function of informing operators of vehicular traffic of their approach to an intersection in such a manner as to assure operation 30: of the signal means by which traffic approaching from an angular direction will be given a signal to stop. The performance of this function, is the result of the complementary and cooperating action of the elements of my invention, namely, a sinuously surfaced approach roadway, having at its exit extremity a weight operation signal switch.

In the drawing, like numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, of which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a street intersection showing the position of the several sinuously surfaced roadways or traffic lanes approaching a street intersection and the center signal means.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the signal mechanism.

Fig. 3 shows the detailed structure; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of Figure 2 along the line :ta:. 5

Referring to the drawing and particularly to .50; Figure 1 thereof, a highway intersection plan is shown comprising a series of a sinuously surfaced roadways or traffic lanes 1, positioned between a curbing 3 and the street center yy along the right half of the street as traffic approaches the I intersection. The trailic lane is preferably constructed of reenforced concrete as shown in Fig. 2 and extends approximately 125 to 200 feetv from the intersection entrance. The lineal edge of the lane is designed with a bevel 4 so that, when expedient'traffic may approach the lane at an angle. I

The sinuous surface 2 comprises a series :of waves 5 which are designed both as to perpendicular height and crest to crest separation to augment the negative acceleration normally accomplished solely by brake action of vehicular traffic approaching a street intersection. By this means the speed of trafiic can be effectively. yet satisfactorily retarded to a definite. slow rate whereby street intersection approaches and crossings can be negotiated with a maximum degree of safety. effectively accomplished by positioning the wave crests suficiently far apartat the ap proach end ofv the sinuated roadway and so fixing the increment of decrease, in the lineal distance between the crests, as to provide positive yet satisfactory means for causing the operator to reduce the speed of the vehicle. Thus when the operator and the vehicle are subjected to a slight undulating or wave motion, the operator will become aware of the necessity for reducing the speed of the vehicle to a safe maximum speed or to a complete stop.

A study of the problem has shown that automobiles with the present wheel base range of from 90 inches to 150 inches traveling at a speed of from to miles per hour, can be brought to a speed of five miles per hour without injury to the car or occupants when driven over a sinuated trafiic lane surface having a valley to crest perpendicular height of substantially 4 inches and a crest to crest distance beginning with 12 feet and decreasing one foot thereafter until a 4 foot phase distance is reached.

It will be appreciated that the distance between the wave crests may be varied, resulting in a consequent variation in the number of sinuations or waves and an increase or decrease in severity of brake action and negative acceleration.

The present construction provides positive yet not objectionable perceptiveness to the necessity for speed diminution and consequent safety.

The sinuous traffic lane or roadway surface is gradually sloped as shown at 6, Fig. l, at the approach end to afford a slight yet positive senseperception of its presence.

While a weight operated switch of the type herein described may be constructed sufliciently sensitive to be actuated by vehicles traveling at all feet back of the pedestrian lane 16, overwhich space there is a gradual slope to the normal level of the street surface. The signal 7 comprisesa U-shaped steel platform 8, slidably mounted in an. upright U-shaped trough support 9 providedwith L-flanges 10 to permit free vertical: reciprocating motion. A pair of heavy steelsprings 11, provide a resiliency pport means for the platform:

A contact plunger bar 12, projecting down-' wardly at right angles from the platform 8, engages aU-shaped contactreceptacle =13,- whenit ispressed downwardly by: the weightof the vehicle. The circuit 14 is thereby energized, lighting a signal light in the approximately square light dome 15, at right angles to the direction of travel of the vehicle energizing the signal. Atime operating device of the well known solenoid slow moving type not shown, may be satisfactorily used,.so as to keep the light signal on'for a substantial period of time.

It is believed that the complete'construction and operationof the deviceawill be clearly understood from the foregoing description. As the vehicle approaches the street intersection, on theright side of the'roadway, the sinuously surfaced lane is encountered- The waves? or undulations are formed and positioned so as to positively yet satisfactorily augment the necessary speed decrease for negotiating intersecting crossings. At the end of the undulated'portion of the traific lane the ve- While I have shown and described the preferred ofsuflicient volume to warrant the use of the well known multiple light system.

embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth, by way of illustrations, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilledin the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding'the-scope of the appended claims. J 1 Y .uWhatIclaim is: J

1; In-a vehicular actuated signal system comprising a trafiic lane having an entrance and an exit for trainc thereover,said lane having an undulated surface formed by a plurality of'vertical undulations and a-fvehicular operated switch positioned at the exit end ofsaid lane. 2. In a vehicular actuated signalsystem'comprising a traffic lane having an entrance and an exit for traffic thereover, said lane having an un-' dulated surface formed by a plurality .ofvertical undulations, the undulations being positioned'in a regularly diminishing longitudinal space relation to each other, and a vehicular operated switch positioned at the end of said lane. 1 i

.GUS KAICH. 1 

